'Lane Kiffin Is Out': Greg McElroy Weighs In On Rebels Coach Being Replacement For Nick Saban
Lane Kiffin would always be mentioned as Nick Saban's heir given their relationship in Tuscaloosa, but that doesn't mean he'll be leaving for Ole Miss' cross-state rival anytime soon.
During an interview on 'McElroy and Cublic" on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham, former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN analyst Greg McElroy mentioned several candidates who could replace Saban following his impromptu retirement Wednesday. Kiffin was not one of the names mentioned as a serious candidate.
"Lane Kiffin is out," said McElroy.
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Kiffin, 48, served as offensive coordinator under Saban in Tuscaloosa for three seasons, helping the Tide win a pair of national titles before restarting his head coaching career at FAU in 2017.
Hired away from Boca Raton in 2020, Kiffin has been the backbone of a promising turnaround in Oxford. Two years after taking over for Matt Luke, he led Ole Miss to its first 10-win regular season and a New Year's Six Bowl berth.
Two years later, Kiffin secured the first 11-win season in program history and a top 10 finish in the AP Poll after defeating Penn State 38-25 in the Peach Bowl. His development with quarterback Jaxson Dart led to top-20 finishes in scoring (35.1 points per game) and total yards (461.9 yards per game).
There would have to be interest from Kiffin if an offer presented itself, mainly due to one word: Potential.
Alabama won six titles in 17 seasons under Saban's watch and consistently was a threat to win the SEC. Talent-wise, the Crimson Tide produced 44 first-round picks during Saban's tenure, meaning 14 more players were drafted than he had losses (29) during his time at the helm.
Kiffin also has been adamant about raising the level of competition in Oxford in hopes of competing for a College Football Playoff berth, mentioning how Ole Miss must compete on the recruiting trail with programs like Alabama and Georgia to be successful.
"We would have to recruit at a better level, do a better job of recruiting," Kiffin said following the blowout loss to Georgia in November.
Kiffin recently swung big into the transfer portal to secure Ole Miss' status heading into 2024, landing the commitments of defensive lineman Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), edge rusher Tyler Baron (Tennessee), edge rusher Princely Umanmielen (Florida), cornerback Decamerion Richardson (Mississippi State) and linebacker Chris Paul (Arkansas).
Offensively, the Rebels added receiver Juice Wells (South Carolina) and running back Logan Diggs (LSU) in an effort to replace the production lost by Dayton Wade and Quinshon Judkins, respectively. Wade is off to the NFL following a breakout season. Judkins elected to enter the transfer portal earlier this month and recently committed to Ohio State.
While his contract buyout has not been available to the public, Kiffin still has four years remaining on his recent contract extension. Due to the state law for public employers, the maximum the university can offer him is four years.
Kiffin is set to make $8.85 million in base compensation in 2024 with the Rebels.
